Announcements

Fluid forum view allows members only to get right to the meat of this community; the topics. You can toggle between your preferred forum view just below to the left on the main forum entrance. You will see three icons. Try them out and see what you prefer.
Fluid view allows you, if you are a signed up member, to see the newest topic posts in either all forums (select none or all) or in just your favorite forums (select the ones you want to see when you come to Fishing Minnesota). It keeps and in real time with respect to Topic posts and lets YOU SELECT YOUR FAVORITE FORUMS. It can make things fun and easy. This is especially true for less experienced visitors raised on social media. If you, as a members want more specific topics, you can even select a single forum to view.
Let us take a look at fluid view in action. We will then break it down and explain how it works in more detail.
The video shows the topic list and the forum filter box. As you can see, it is easy to change the topic list by changing the selected forums. This view replaces the traditional list of categories and forums.
Of course, members only can change the view to better suit your way of browsing.
You will notice a “grid” option. We have moved the grid forum theme setting into the main forum settings. This makes it an option for members only to choose.
This screenshot also shows the removal of the forum breadcrumb in fluid view mode. Fluid view remembers your last forum selection so you don’t lose your place when you go back to the listing.
The benefit of this feature is easy to see. It removes a potential barrier of entry for members only. It puts the spotlight on topics themselves, and not the hierarchical forum structure. You as a member will enjoy viewing many forums at once and switching between them without leaving the page.
We hope that fluid view, the new functionality is an asset that you enjoy .

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Sportland_Bait 7

Has there been any efforts in the past to stock a managed walleye lake that is the size of Gull or smaller? I am just curious. I know that it is always mentioned that lakes such as Mille Lacs, Cass and such bigger waters do not feel any repurcusions from muskie stocking.

Jason Erlandson

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

CaptainMusky 2

CaptainMusky 2

Has there been any efforts in the past to stock a managed walleye lake that is the size of Gull or smaller? I am just curious. I know that it is always mentioned that lakes such as Mille Lacs, Cass and such bigger waters do not feel any repurcusions from muskie stocking.

Jason Erlandson

Aren't all lakes "managed" for walleyes in MN? I am kidding of course, but almost every lake that has been stocked with muskies receives regular stocking of walleyes as well and did so before muskies were introduced. Lakes like Alexander, Shamineau, Cedar, granted are smaller than Gull, but all are managed for walleyes. Muskies actually have a disadvantage in lakes with prevalent walleye and pike populations since the YOY pike and walleyes will feed on the YOY muskies due to them spawning much later.

The walleyes, bass and panfish are thriving in Alexander, Shamineau, etc. The DNR has noticed some of their best numbers over the last 10 years on Alex for all game species. This doesn't necessarily mean that muskies made the lake better, but it definitely didn't decimate it either.

Walleyes eat more walleyes than muskies eat walleyes. Gull will have another trophy fish option if muskies are introduced.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Sportland_Bait 7

Sportland_Bait 7

I'm am not totally sold either way on this issue, but I do have my concerns. I believe lakes are cyclical and do take care of themselves. I believe that there is an abundance of walleyes in Gull at this point in time. I also believe that the forage base has been heavily diminished. If this is the case for a few years to come, what will the muskies eat if the forage base is lower than normal? Does it pay dividends to continue a heavy walleye stocking and a muskie stocking program at the same time?

I also think comparing Gull and Alexander are apples and oranges. Gull is one of the top 5 walleye fisheries in the state year in and year out. Walleye numbers far exceed any other lake that has been put through a muskie stocking program such as this to my knowledge.

I also have concerns that muskie stocking not only affects Gull Lake. What about lakes such as North Long, Round, and the Cullen Chain. In high water years all of the these lakes will be available for the Muskies.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Ray Mysterio 0

Does Gull's walleye numbers exceed Mille Lacs? I have fished Mille Lacs for many years and it seems to just get better. As does the muskie fishing.

I remember a post on the muskie forum earlier this summer about what muskies will eat.Someone brought up a scientific study that was published. I know the study stated that a muskie will eat more muskies and northerns than walleyes. I can't seem to find that discussion. Anyone else know what I am talking about?

But it may affect gull differently if the forage base is extremely low.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

gorrilla 0

When I was hired to do the DNR creel survey in the late 90's, I believe the study we used to respond to people with issues about the Alexander musky stockings were from a branch of the University of Wisconsin. It showed the prey species selected by muskies through examining stomach contents of numerous fish from numerous (and varying sized) systems. Like commonly described, it had the majority of prey being soft spined fish like suckers, and in some lakes perch were common. I do remember that the study found more muskies were eaten than walleyes( which were in very small numbers). So they showed in there study that they were more likely to eat their own kind than walleyes.

I don't think a 50" predator (muskies) is going to affect the walleye population anymore than a 40" predator (northerns).

Jason, if Lake Alexander had the same guide pressure, tourism, and water clarity as Gull, you'd think differently of it. From the DNR net pulls, and just simply spotlighting its shallows at night, you can see it has a VERY healthy population of Walleyes. I think they are just harder to catch, and since the average angler doesn't fish clear water properly, only the locals are on to the deep and night patterns in Alex.

Anyway I guess my opinion is that while the publics opinion is very important to the management of our lakes, I don't think it should be the only factor. I can only feel confident in my opinion when I base it on the scientific facts I've obtained and heard from unbiased fisheries biologists and professors in the field of Ichthyology. Us fishermen are usually biased whether we admit it or not...

I think another great sport fish would be great on the Gull Lake Chain. Thats coming from a former Musky nut and current Walleye nut.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

therancher 0

therancher 0

I actually would prefer it if the Muskies did thin out the eye' population on Gull. I know that there are a lot of fish in there, but does that make it a healthy population? I stopped fishing there because of the fact, that there were so many fish, and rarely were any of them big enough to make it worth while. You can talk about numbers till the cows come home, but you can catch just as many if not more big walleyes on other area lakes. Bring on the skies'

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

mtreno 0

mtreno 0

they have always done that on miltona...... way before muskies were there - when the lake gets hot the fish go deep - real deep - pulled many a walleye out of 40+ feet of water on none muskie lakes. the walleyes are going to do there thing weather there are muskies around or not - just ask any walleye troller on mille lacs in the fall - there all in the same spots feeding on the same things - and its not walleyes

its been studied to death and talked about to death but everytime a new lake is looked at for muskie stocking programs everybody freaks out about the walleyes. then every study in the world is relooked at cause "this lake is different the those other walleye lakes". it will go on and on and on and on and on......... its kinda like the Bush debate - well something changed for the worse it must be the muskies fault.

for a change lets blame large mouth bass - those dang things keep eating all the walleyes and baitfish. or how about bullheads - they look ugly so they must be bad

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

BoxMN 15

BoxMN 15

Slightly different in size and water quality of lakes, but both Rush (Rush City) and Bald Eagle (White Bear area) have big muskies and are quite well known in metro area as major muskie lakes. We have consistently caught both numbers and good size, and small size, walleye on both. (Actually haven't been to rush in a couple years)

But it sure seems that the muskies and walleye live just fine in these smaller lakes. I haven't fished Gull, but plan to as we are inthe area quite a bit in the summer. Just got to North Long for first time - was interesting lake.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Mr. B 0

Mr. B 0

I will admit that I am biased. I have been hoping for Muskies in the Gull Chain for 20 years. If there is some hard data that shows Muskies are bad for the lake I will change my mind until then bring them on. Growing up in Brainerd and still having family on Gull Lake I can not wait.

I do have a question though, once stocking starts (if it does) how long does it take to build a fishable population? I was trying to remember back to when Muskies were first stocked in Mille Lacs and I can not think when it was started. Does it take 10 years, 20 years to build up a Musky fishery?

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Sportland_Bait 7

Sportland_Bait 7

I do not totally disagree with the scientific results that muskie advocates use when talking about establishing a new muskie lake. The issue that I see is that the results are all from short term research. There are no long terms results of muskie studies 30 plus years. Musky advocates always preach that there are no results that show a harmful effect. But with such few results over the years how can you prove the benifits to the fishery. Stomach contents will vary according to what is available in the lake. Fish will eat what they need to eat to survive.

Mille Lacs is the worlds best lake for natural reproduction so it is hard to compare Gull and Mille Lacs.

I haven't talked to everyone, but I'd say that 95 percent of the folks that I have talked to in the store are opposed to such action. I hope that there will be equal represention at the input meetings. I also hope that the DNR hasn't already decided what they will be doing prior to the input meeting.

Jason Erlandson

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

B420 0

B420 0

As both a walleye and muskie nut, I think they would be great addition to the lake. I love the old bar room biology that the muskies eat all the walleye. What do guides and their clients eat? THEY EAT WALLEYE! I know most of the guides are putting back the 20"+ fish, and I applaud them for that. I think it is a little hypocritical to say that the muskies are going eat all the walleye when you have numerous guides taking fish out of the system on a DAILY basis. When walleye are hard to catch in the summer people want to blame muskies or the DNR for not stocking enough, etc. Fish have fins and they move! The aren't going to be in 8-12' all year like they are during the opener. In ciscoe based lakes (gull lake has ciscoes) a portion of the walleye population suspends right with the ciscoe all summer and eat like little piggies, but few guys have the balls the troll a rapala 10ft. down over 40-90' of water. I do the open water trolling thing and crush the walleye from Mille Lacs to the longville lakes area. I was very skeptical at first but when I started getting 20-28" walleyes on a regular basis I changed my tune pretty quick. The old addage that pike "lose thier teeth" during the summer and don't bite is another great one. Apparently on the lakes I fish they have a dentist cause we get big, fat pike in the summer that are full of ciscoes. Before the blame gets directed at muskies study the information a little bit so you have a basis for your decision. Heck, I may keep some walleye one of these days when I can find out where those little one are hiding!

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

therancher 0

therancher 0

Ok so is there any concrete evidence that muskies have hurt the walleye population on any lake? I work at a local retail store in the fishing dept. and I would disagree 100% that 95% of people are against muskie stocking in Gull. It is definatly not 100% for it either. I would say close to 50-50. I have yet to hear anyone call for the banning of guide services on Gull. I imagine that people fishing with a guide and or guides themselves are responsible for just as many walleye deaths as any muskie population could possibly be.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

mtreno 0

mtreno 0

of those 95% that are opposed - what are there reasons? would you say the most common answer is the affect on the walleye population? now where do these poeple get there opions? studies that back-up the "fact" that there is an affect? curious what other reasons you have herd

i have never seen a true study showing a negative affect - could you point me in the direction of one?

i think the best example of a 30 year study would be lake harriet or tonka - there the only lakes around that have been stocked that long with muskies - both are fantastic walleye lakes. but i cannot think of any long term study that has been done on either lake -

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Sportland_Bait 7

Sportland_Bait 7

These are just generalized numbers. Most of the anglers that we see on the lakes are tourist anglers. They are on the lake most days with families and friends. Most are in love with catching fish of any type but the holy grail is always a walleye. The idea of creating a trophy fishery isn't for the average fisherman. It is built for trophy hunters. A small number of fish with great size. That isn't set up for the novice in which most of our summertime anglers are. More than likely it is the type of customer that our store caters to. We have a large group of walleye/summertime anglers. That oppinion would change if we had more Muskie anglers.

I just wish that there was more concrete evidence. It seems like a revolving door in the pro/con argument on the muskie stocking issue. The arguments are always the same. There never seems to be any new evidence.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

B420 0

You wanted the "concrete evidence" here she be. I guess I would trust these more than the saturday night crowd at Zorbaz or Ernies! I don't know how many more studies by qualified biologist it will take to show people that they are not specifically targeting walleye. I have this study in PDF format for anybody who wants it via email.

258

North American Journal of Fisheries Management 19:258–270, 1999

q Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 1999

Diets of Muskellunge in Northern Wisconsin Lakes

MICHAEL A. BOZEK AND THOMAS M. BURRI*1

Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit,2 College of Natural Resources,

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

walleyedan 0

The one thing that I see in the future is a busier Gull Lake. It's already getting to be a zoo on the weekends at the landings and on the water. Throw in some musky anglers on some of these busy weekends and there will be some rage. I guess that is inevitable with the way the area is growing. We will need to add landings or add to the existing landings. I say stock it and it will be the most fun musky lake in the state (in about 12 years). And it will always be a very good walleye lake.

Walleyedan

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Sportland_Bait 7

Sportland_Bait 7

We now know what is in their stomachs, but what happens when we run into a forage problem. Maybe now isn't the best time to launch a muskie program. I'm not saying never, but maybe not right now considering the status of the lake. The DNR has done a great job with the walleye program on Gull, I would hate to see it get foiled in it's prime.

Posts

I've massaged the trigger finger this summer by shooting the sporting clays league at Rice Creek. Good way to make sure I got out!
Started a little rough as to be expected but got back the groove toward the end. Finished the summer at a charity shoot with 39/40. That felt good.

Through a federal grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ has awarded more than $450,000 in local grants to protect and enhance inland coastal resources.
The annual grant program is managed by the Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program, which is a voluntary federal-state partnership distributing federal dollars to projects along the inland coast of Lake Superior. This year, grant funding is being awarded to nine projects in the coastal area:
Researchers at the University of Minnesota will monitor and analyze measures designed to reduce erosion of bluffs adjacent to North Shore streams. Results will inform guidance on design criteria for future projects. $35,900.
The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission will conduct an economic impact assessment of paved trails within the coastal area; determine the number of users of four popular trails (Duluth Lakewalk, Willard Munger State Trail, Gitchi-Gami State Trail, and St. Louis River Trail), and simultaneously conduct large-scale survey of trail-user habits and impacts on coastal economy. $11,500.
Laurentian Resource Conservation and Development is planning to host a two-day conference for academia and coastal managers to bridge a gap between research results and practices of watershed assessment, protection and stream restoration. $23,000.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota will increase scientific understanding of success rates of coastal forest seeds. Results will inform coastal managers for improved adaptive management and help determination whether coastal trees should be protected and treated as a unique seed collection zone. $98,875.
Duluth Children’s Museum in collaboration with Positive Energy Outdoors will create a year round, innovative outdoor science, technology, engineering, and math active learning experience for children, particularly those in low-income households with limited access. $33,100.
University of Minnesota Duluth – Natural Resources Research Institute and several partners will develop protocols for assessing the biomass of periphyton (algae attached to rocks) in Duluth area trout streams for use by professional aquatic and citizen scientists. $77,440.
City of Duluth will improve public safety and access to the St. Louis River estuary through upgraded wayfinding signage and amenities on the Western Waterfront Trail. $89,080.
Lake County will develop engineering designs and construct trailhead for Lake County Mountain Bike Trail System, a planned 100-plus mile mountain bike trail system. connecting both beginner and advanced cyclists to nature and physical activity in the coastal area. $70,000.
City of Carlton will replace an outdoor restroom facility at the Willard Munger trailhead in city of Carlton. The updated structure will meet current sewer requirements and meet compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act. $11,225.
For 18 years, the DNR and NOAA have worked together to better Minnesota’s inland coast. Together, the agencies have granted $12.6 million in pass-through funding to more than 550 local projects and provided thousands of hours of technical assistance. Projects are selected for funding through an annual competitive grants process.
For more information about Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program, visit www.mndnr.gov/mlscp.
Discuss below - to view set the hook here.

Second the guide. Fishing a lake in the north is totally different from fishing Mississippi or lake Zumbro or other lakes in the southern half of the state.
Otherwise you should look at the best place to launch your boat to be close to good fishing. Rainy is a very big lake..
Ask in http://fishingminnesota.com/forums/forum/98-rainy-lake-fishing-reports-hunting-events/
the rainy lake forum.

I saw this on the Wright County website today: http://www.wrightswcd.org/Water_Mana...e_species.htmlThere's a link in Blue on the home page.

Sounds like they are having a meeting about it on AUG 23. From talking to the DNR, I believe they didn't allow the initial dates for this to happen. Mostly because there was really no comment period on it. Sounds like they are gonna have it now. Guess if your against it, now's your chance to speak up. You can also send in written comments. Not sure exactly to who, at least I didn't see that part clearly. Maybe to Alicia O'Hare.

Like others have said, I believe their ultimate goal is to have this implemented county wide at some point. When you look at the committee info, most groups are lake associations. Hopefully it still can be stopped.
Here is the DNR person I called on this, she was helpful: Heidi Wolf - 651-259-5152

I resisted converting to braided lines. I liked my TrileneXL. Then, one day about four years ago I decided to spool up with fireline and at first I didn't think I could really feel much difference. Skeptical me, I always held on to that spool loaded with my trusty Trilene. One day I decided to put that mono back on and immediately could feel the difference. It felt like I was fishing with a rubber band. I went back to braided and haven't looked back.

Anyone with a 2017 Minnesota fishing or hunting license can receive a free St. Paul Saints logo baseball cap and discounted tickets though a special Saints ticket offer online at mndnr.gov/saints.
The offer is good for the 7:05 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, game vs. the Wichita Wingnuts. Tickets are $17 and all ticket holders under this partnership will pick up their cap at the game. Instructions for purchasing tickets are at mndnr.gov/saints.
Buy licenses at any Minnesota Department of Natural Resources license agent, online with a mobile or desktop device at mndnr.gov/buyalicense, or by phone at 888-665-4236. Mobile buyers receive a text or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers.
Discuss below - to view set the hook here.